José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is getting closer to becoming official. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese coach will sign a contract for three seasons, until June 2029, in an operation that includes the payment of an exit clause of seven million euros to Benfica.
The news marks one of the most shocking movements in European football in 2026 and represents the return of a coach who left a deep mark on the white team during his first stage between 2010 and 2013.
Mourinho’s first stage changed Madrid
When Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid, the club was going through difficult years in Europe and was constantly suffering against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. The Portuguese transformed the competitive mentality of the team and built a base that years later would end up winning multiple Champions Leagues.
During its first stage:
He won LaLiga 2011-12 with a record of 100 points.
He won a Copa del Rey against Barcelona.
They reached three consecutive Champions League semi-finals.
He promoted figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Ángel Di María.
Furthermore, he implemented a style based on intensity, pressure and quick transitions that returned Madrid to the European competitive elite.
A locker room under the magnifying glass
According to several Spanish media, Mourinho’s main objective will be to rebuild the Real Madrid locker room, which has been noted in recent seasons for internal conflicts, lack of leadership and problems of coexistence between stars.
The Portuguese coach would look for:
Recover tactical discipline.
Strengthen defensive commitment.
Reduce internal tensions.
Return competitive aggressiveness to the team.
The board considers that the current team needs a strong figure capable of imposing authority and reordering the internal dynamics.
The challenge of managing the stars
One of the great challenges for Mourinho will be to find balance between figures such as:
Kylian Mbappé.
Vinícius Junior.
Jude Bellingham.
The Spanish press assures that the coach considers that the team depends too much on individual talent and needs a more solid tactical structure to once again dominate Europe.
There is also expectation about what his relationship with some locker room leaders will be like, especially in an era where management methods are very different from those of a decade ago.
A return that divides opinions
While part of the fans celebrate the return of a winning coach with a strong personality, others remember the tensions that marked the end of his first stage at the club.
However, Real Madrid believe that Mourinho can repeat the impact he had in 2010: transforming a talented team into a fiercely competitive squad.
